Our research faculty in the Department of Chemistry guide students to think critically and creatively about solutions to important and challenging problems. Our department's 27 active research groups receive over $30 million in annual funding from federal and state agencies, as well as industry, to support their research. Our undergraduate and graduate students develop practical skills here at ISU by working closely with faculty in individual and collaborative research projects in our chemistry labs equipped with state-of-the-art equipment.

Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry

Become a detective at the molecular level. Invent new tools to analyze processes. Our analytical faculty develops new technologies in microfluidics, mass spectrometry, and imaging, and solves challenges in chemical separations. 

Robbyn Anand | Jared Anderson | Young Jin Lee | Jacob Petrich | Emily Smith

Inorganic and Materials Chemistry

Efficient catalysts and new materials are critical for addressing challenges in energy. Our inorganic division specializes in catalysis, organometallic synthesis, and the development of new materials for energy storage and conversion.

Peter Dorhout | Wenyu Huang | Kirill Kovnir | Aaron Sadow | Javier Vela | Julia Zaikina

Organic and Bioorganic Chemistry

New molecules must be made to discover new function. Our organic faculty has expertise in reaction development, peptide chemistry, asymmetric synthesis, physical organic chemistry, and organic nano-particles.

Junqi Li | Levi Stanley | Brett VanVeller | Art Winter | Yuan Zhang | Yan Zhao

Physical and Theoretical Chemistry

What do molecules look like and how do they behave? Our experimental and theoretical chemistry experts develop models to understand biochemical processes and heterogeneous catalysis, and invent new methods for structural characterization.

Mark Gordon | Wenyu Huang | Jacob Petrich | Davit Potoyan | Aaron Rossini | Song Xueyu | Vincenzo Venditti | Theresa Windus

Chemical Education

How do we learn how we learn? Tom Holme, the editor of Journal of Chemical Education measures how teaching tools help students learn more about chemistry.

Tom Holme